Athens 300 Km Brevet Analyzed

I began randonneuring cycling just over 3 years ago to qualify, train and complete an event called Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011.  In this blog there's a ride report on that, and it reflects on how I did not complete that 1200 km event because of a crash resulting in a fractured clavicle along with torn rotator cuff and biceps tendon.  That was one of only 3 events out of 44 that I did not successfully complete--until last Saturday. Technically I did finish 2 of those 4 just not within the time limit.  The Athens 300 km brevet was a finish outside the time limit; here's how it unfolded for me.

At 6:00 I set off from Watkinsville GA with 13fellow rando riders in 35 degree darkness.  It didn't take long before I fell behind the group, but I felt pretty comfortable despite the light freezing rain that soon began to welcome the day.  I passed a rider at the first control about an hour into the ride who was changing a flat.  I asked if everything was OK and he said it was, but I found out later he DNFed since he could not successfully mount a tubular tire.  Another rider just ahead of me cruised out of sight, but about 10 miles later passed me because he had missed a turn.  This is one of the aspects about randonneuring that makes it special:  basically you are cycling on roads you haven't ridden with only a cue sheet to guide you.  Also there isn't any support, you pretty much have to be self sufficient.  Sometimes cue sheets have a way of being confusing, more often a rural road is either not marked--or the sign is missing.  No big deal if you live out there but it can add miles and time to a ride if one isn't careful.

I got to the control in Carlton GA at  10:00.  I saw one of our riders sitting in an open SUV changing clothes.  It looked like a friend was simply meeting him at a control to bring out dry clothes.  It turned out he had simply had enough riding and was also DNFing.  Another aspect of this type event is you carry a card with designated control points along the course.  Usually they are stores where you can replenish fluids and food.  You get your card initialed with the time you came through.  There are designated times for the control to be open:  Carlton opened at 8:14 and closed at 11:04.  I was there an hour before the close time so while not setting any speed records I was ahead of schedule.  Note:  to get there at 8:14 one would have to average about 25 mph not including having to stop at 2 prior controls. 

The weather got better, in other words it quit snowing, and I rode on the the next control.  This control was an information control.  Information controls are inserted where there aren't any stores and to make sure riders don't take a short cut.  This particular control was the Georgia Guide stones which are 5 massive granite structures containing 10 principles written in 8 different languages.  We had to write down the translation--just kidding--all we had to note was the number of granite monuments.  From there I road towards Richard Russel State Park where there actually would be a live person with refreshments.  As I headed that way I began to see the faster riders since this portion of the course was an out-and-back portion.  The event host Jim Shanni was at the park entrance with refreshments and since he was at the entrance it cut off about 4 miles of the official route (which was OK since it was actually 196 miles which is more than 300 km.  Most riders were not complaining although 2 cyclists followed the official route through the park probably to keep their GPS devices from going crazy.

At this point I was at mile 83 and nearly 2 hours ahead of the control closing.  Leaving the park I encountered a new challenge--strong headwinds which manged to remain directly in front of me regardless of the route direction.  I got to Royston GA at 4:00 still almost 2 hours ahead of cutoff but had to get something more substantial than fruit and frozen power bars.  I stopped at McDonald's and tried to eat 2 hamburgers, fries and a coke, but could quite eat every bite.  Although I felt hungry food just would not go down easy and that turned out to be critical.  That was the last solid food I could stomach for the rest of the ride and I paid the price down the road.

Leaving Royston the wind abated and was replaced by a more climbing than on the first half of the route.  Once darkness settled in, temperatures started to drop, and I began making some mistakes.  I drank some fluids but not near enough.  I could not stomach any solid food even though I had a long way to ride.  Then I missed a turn because I misread mileage on the cue sheet.  When that happens and it's dark you tend to get skittish about every next turn.  I began stopping to check road signs, and when I realized my helmet light was OK for reading a cue sheet but not very effective when I looked at road signs I had to stop and replace batteries.  Seems like a simple task but try it at night when your fingers don't have much feeling.  I was losing time big time now and began to wonder if I would finish by the 2:00 am time limit.

I rolled into the last control before the finish 25 minutes ahead of closing which left me with 80 minutes to cycle 16 miles.  Then I realized I had accidentally cut off about 4 miles of the cue sheet directions.  I was smart enough to carry a spare, but by the time I dug it out, studied it avoid getting lost, I had wasted too damn much time.  Jim drove out to check on me and I was 12 miles out with 35 minutes left.  Although I knew I couldn't ride 25 mph for 12 minutes much less 12 miles.  But having ridden that far I wasn't about to quit.  I rolled into the hotel at 2:30, a half hour too late to receive official credit for completing the brevet.  My consolation was riding over 200 miles, and getting good training for circumstances I'll probably encounter during my 1200 event in June. 

The most painful moment though happened during the shower at the hotel when I ran warm water over frost bitten toes and fingers.  Over breakfast one of my fellow riders said his mother recently asked him "when are you going to start riding just for fun again?'  Many of my friends wonder the same thing about me.  There are a few reasons why I do these type rides.  I have always been passionate about cycling from the days when I was a kid and enjoyed the freedom a bike offerred.  Now as a 67 year old with 11 orthopedic surgeries and 3 artificial joints it's one of the few athletic aerobic things I can still do.  It's also immensely satisfying to take on a challenge and stubbornly see it through in the face of pretty tough circumstances.  To me it represents what life is all about.
See you on the road.